News: Microelectronics
13 March 2025
Infineon’s battery backup unit roadmap for AI data centers includes first 12kW BBU
Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany has introduced its roadmap for next-level battery backup unit (BBU) solutions for uninterrupted operations of AI data centers to avoid power outages and the risk of data losses. The comprehensive BBU roadmap includes power solutions from 4kW up to the world’s first 12kW battery backup unit. The BBU solutions are designed to deliver highly efficient, reliable and scalable power conversion in AI server racks, and achieve a power density up to 400% higher compared with industry average. BBUs are essential for AI data centers to provide an uninterruptible power supply and furthermore protect sensitive AI hardware from voltage spikes, surges and other power anomalies by filtering and conditioning the power that is supplied to the data-center equipment. Combined with various best-in-class topologies enabling an increased ease-of-use for customers, the BBU solutions are bolstering Infineon’s position in powering artificial intelligence.
“Ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to AI systems is critical for maintaining process continuity and seamless operation,” says Adam White, division president Power & Sensor Systems at Infineon. “Our energy-efficient battery backup units are designed to keep AI servers running smoothly with exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, catering to the diverse power levels required by AI servers. By mastering all three relevant semiconductor materials silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium nitride (GaN) we are confident that Infineon semiconductor solutions will set a new standard in powering AI data centers.”
Downtime or system failures in AI data centers can be extraordinarily costly, with 41% of firms interviewed in an ITIC survey from 2024 indicating losses from $1m to over $5m per hour of downtime. Of these failures, 35% are attributed to issues with power component quality. To address this, Infineon’s Partial Power Converter (PPC), a semiconductor solution that focuses on improving performance and reliability of power supply systems, provides technology for battery backup units.
The intermediate solution, represented by the 5.5kW BBU, features an Infineon proprietary topology that integrates silicon and GaN technologies providing ultra-high efficiency and high power density. The industry-first 12kW system combines several 4kW power converter cards utilizing Infineon’s PSOC microcontrollers, 40V and 80V OptiMOS and EiceDRIVER gate drivers enabling unparalleled performance and flexibility, achieving a power density four times higher than industry average. Higher power levels can be attained by paralleling multiple cards on a motherboard, offering ease of scalability and simplified maintenance. If one card fails, the system continues to operate at a reduced capacity, minimizing downtime and ensuring high reliability. This modular approach allows the system to be tailored to specific power requirements without the need for a full system redesign creating substantial customer benefits in performance and reliability.
To further demonstrate the capabilities of the latest BBU technology, Infineon is developing full system demonstrators for its battery backup solutions. These demonstrators will showcase the advantages of the PPC technology in real-world applications offering a clear path forward for next-generation AI data centers.
